Kimberly K. Black

Kimberly K. Black serves as a Contract Specialist within the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), where she plays a critical role in executing complex acquisitions for integrated missile defense systems. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of contract management—from requirements definition and source selection to award administration and performance oversight—ensuring alignment with MDA’s mission to develop and field layered defense architectures. She specializes in procuring advanced sensor systems, guidance and control technologies, and midcourse/terminal-phase interception capabilities, often supporting high-priority research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) programs. Her work directly enables the modernization of national missile defense infrastructure through technically demanding, mission-critical contracts. Black maintains sustained contracting relationships with leading defense prime contractors, including Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, which serve as primary integrators of missile defense hardware and software systems. She also collaborates with Jacobs Technology Inc. on engineering and technical services supporting system integration and test operations. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting, systems engineering support, and risk-mitigated acquisition strategies tailored to the unique challenges of hypersonic and ballistic missile threat environments. These partnerships are characterized by long-term engagement, technical alignment, and adherence to stringent DoD acquisition regulations. Black’s contracting portfolio reflects a consistent focus on full and open competition, with 100% of her awards issued under no set-aside preferences. There is no indication of targeted use of 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic programs in her recent award activity, indicating a procurement strategy prioritizing technical capability and mission readiness over socioeconomic set-asides. Her primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 334511—Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing—reflecting deep specialization in radar systems, infrared seekers, battle management command and control (BMC2) architectures, and kinetic interceptors. She routinely oversees acquisitions of mission-critical technologies essential to layered defense operations across all phases of flight.